Generate a PDF
PDF publication creates a downloadable document from your map's content, with a cover page, table of contents, and print-ready formatting.
Before you begin
You need a map with at least one topic. The map structure determines the PDF's table of contents and page order.
PDF generation is included in Solo and higher tiers. During beta, the default free plan grants Solo capabilities.
Create a PDF target
Open a map and scroll to Publication Targets.
Click New Target.
Enter a name (for example, "Printable Guide").
Select PDF as the output format.
Select a condition profile and variable set.
Generate and download the PDF
In the map's publishing manager, click Export… on the target.
Choose Served generation for the immutable content readers receive, or Draft graph for current authoring content. An unpublished target uses the draft graph.
Click Download beside PDF. The publishing pipeline resolves components, filters conditions, and substitutes variables before rendering.
Maps with at least 50 topics generate their PDF in the background. Saved PDF exports shows the saved job's progress and outcome in both the export dialog and publishing manager. You can close the dialog, navigate away, or reload the page, then return to the same target to download the completed job. A failed list read retains earlier evidence and offers Retry PDF jobs.
The list shows the latest 10 background exports. Each download rechecks current project access. If an artifact has expired, generate a new PDF; the saved outcome remains in the list.
PDF output differs from web output in several ways: interactive elements (tabbed code groups, Try It panels, the search bar) are not included. Images are embedded at print resolution. The table of contents is generated with page numbers rather than hyperlinks.
What the PDF includes
Cover page: project name, target name, generation date, and logo
Table of contents: generated from the map structure with page numbers
Topic content: each topic on its own page with print-ready typography
Page breaks between topics
Branding: custom colors, font family, logo
Customize PDF output
Each PDF target has its own configuration panel in the publish manager, where you set:
Page size and orientation: Letter or A4, portrait or landscape
Margins: top, bottom, left, and right
Font family: sans-serif, serif, or monospace
Headers and footers: separate left and right content, with variable tokens
Cover page and table of contents toggles
Colors and the logo come from your project branding (Settings > General): the primary color is applied to headings and decorative elements, and the logo appears on the cover page.
For long documents, keep header text short (company name or document classification) and use footer text for version identifiers or copyright notices. This keeps the page layout clean while still providing context on every page.
See also
Configure PDF output: customize PDF branding, fonts, headers, footers, and print-specific CSS
Publish a web site: publish as a live web site instead of a downloadable PDF
The publishing pipeline: how content is resolved and rendered before PDF generation
Plans and limits: current feature tiers and limits